Device for fixing form saddles on the rotary press form cylinder

ABSTRACT

This provides a device for fixing saddles used for mounting printing, embossing, punching or similar forms on a rotary press form cylinder. The device includes tension hooks mounted on eccentric tension spindles and contacting a hook engaging member included on the form saddle. The saddles include a centering means for appropriate location on the cylinder body. The form saddles are fixedly attached to the cylinder body through the use of lever members located outside of the said cylinder body.

United States Patent 1 1 3,603,256

72 111116111616 1 6611631666; 1,677,955 7/1928 Crafts 101/378 Geriurdbolflenbothoflnflrenthal, 1,733,653 10/1929 136mm 101/378 Phlz,Germny 1,923,925 8/1933 Frankboner... 101/378 21 APPLNO. 743,149 2,050,950 8/1936 Huck 101/378 221 Filed July8,l968 2,645,177 7/1953 ID7855816181.. 101/378 45 Patented s6 67,1971 2,708,875 5/1955 "311688 l0l/378 73 4661 166 SchnellprcsaeuhbrikFrankenthalAlbert8z 2,748,699 6/1956 BObSt 101/378 Cie,Akliengesellschah 2,900,903 8/1959 Chase 101/378 Pnnkammmm 2,900,904 8/1959 116ms6116...... 101/378x 2,945,438 7/1960 RlCaldselaL. 101/378 [54] DEVICE G SADDLESONTHE 3,202,097 8/1965 136 1166161 101/378 ROTARY PRESS FORM CYLINDER FOREIGN PATENTS ucmmwnwilgm l,4-ll,946 1965 Fl'aIlCC 101/378 Primary Examiner-Edgar S Bun [52] USCL Att0mey-Lowry,Rinehart&Markva 511 IIILCI B4lf27/06 150 morswdl l0l/378,

382, 383, 335, 415-1; 1W407 R407 A; ABSTRACT: This 16111666 a 66666 for fixing Saddles used for 269/371 58-611 66 mounting printing, embossing, punching or similar forms on a rotary press form cylinder. The device includes tension hooks [56] amend mounted on eccentric tension spindles and contacting a hook UNnED STATES PATENTS engaging member included on the form saddle. The saddles inl,597,49 0 8/l926 Storey 1011378 clude a centering means for appropriate location on the 1,677,955 7/1928 Crafts l0l/378 cylinder body. The form saddles are fixedly attached to the 2,179,508 11/1939 Keller et a]. 1011378 cylinder body through the use of lever members located out- 2,642,800 6/1953 Crabtree lot/378 side of the said cylinder body.

PATENTEU S EP 7mm $603,256

SHEET 1 OF 2 45 Inventors Fm/vz Moos, snmnolbrntw PATENTEU SEP 7 I971 SHEET 2 BF 2 lnvzntor FRAN: Moos, GEAWARO [601. GR X 7 DEVICE FOR FIXING FORM SADDLES ON THE ROTARY PRESS FORM CYLINDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Saddles such as those disclosed in this invention that may be equipped with forms for embossing and punching as well as with forms for printing are very desirable. In addition, it is desirable to have a rotary press form cylinder which may employ all kinds of plates. Various types of plates having different thicknesses include electroplates, plastics, metal plates andwraparound plates. A form saddle for use with the various types of plates would provide an efficient operation in the method of attaching the plates to the form cylinder in a quick and simple manner. Due to the mass of the form saddles and the centrifugal forces acting on them, a device which provides a quick and simple method of attaching these saddles to the form cylinder is extremely important.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide a device for fixing form saddles on a rotary press form cylinder in a quick and simple manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for fixing form saddles on a rotary press form cylinder which safely and reliably holds the form saddles in tension against the body of the form cylinder in spite of the form saddle mass and the centrifugal forces acting on the saddles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fixing device for form saddles which may be operated and adjusted outside of the rotary press machine and away from the fonn cylinder.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device including tension hooks mounted on eccentric tension spindles and contact hook engaging members mounted on the said saddles to fix the form saddles on a rotary press form cylinder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a form saddle fixing device wherein the axial and radial centering of the form saddles is efficiently effected during the mounting and tightening of the said saddles.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a fixing device for form saddles which provides tension forces acting on the said saddles in a substantially radial direction with respect to the form cylinder and thereby directly opposed to the centrifugal forces produced in the operation of a rotary press.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device including tension hooks which catch on to hook engaging members located on the lower side of the saddles being mounted on the cylinder body. The hooks are controlled through the use of levers that are located outside of the cylinder body and are made of very simple construction to manipulate the tension hooks in the and out of a tensioning or clamping position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In specific embodiment of the invention, tension hooks having large diameter boreholes are frictionally mounted on eccentric spindles. The hooks also include rubbing and pressure plates which are forced against the eccentric spindles via spring pressure. The tension hooks move within a limited winging range between the hook engaging member on the sad dle and a stop on the form cylinder body. The eccentric spindle moves a distance beyond the swinging range of the tension hook by virtue of a frictional sliding movement within the toward the center of the cylinder body. The tension force is thereby applied substantially radially with respect to the form cylinder body. To loosen the form saddles from the cylinder body, the tensioning operation is simply reversed. That is, the eccentric cylinder is frictionally turned 'within the large diameter bore hole of the tension hook thereby releasing the tension force along the hook and directed toward the center of the cylinder body. The tension hook then moves out of contact with the hook engaging member of the saddle by virtue of the turning spindle which is in frictional contact with the tension hook within the bore hole. Once the tension hook has reached the cylinder body limiting position in the hook disengaging operation, the eccentric spindle turns within the bore hole thereby moving the hook shank in a direction away from the said cylinder body. When the tension hook has moved outwardly with respect to the cylinder body, it is again ready to be moved in the opposite direction toward the hook engaging member. The tension force required to fix the saddle onto the form cylinder of the rotary press is thereby reestablished. I

The movement of the tension hooks into and out of the tensioning or clamping position on the hook engaging members is limited to a very precise range. The movement of the eccentric spindle is also limited to a controlled swinging movement within the bore hole beyond the stopping points of movement for the tension hooks. Lever members are placed on the outward end of the eccentric spindles to efiect the turning of the spindles within the cylinder body. The movement of the lever members is limited at either end of its displacement range by arresting devices. An example of such an arresting device is a movable pin located at the end of the lever which acts in concert with openings or notches placed in an end portion ofthe cylinder body. The operator placing the form saddles onto the rotary press forrn cylinder knows that the hand lever movement must be completed to both extremes'of the lever displacement range. A limit stop is placed on the eccentric spindle at the location of the tension hook frictionally mounted thereon. In addition, a limit stop is located on the body of the tension hook. If the hook does not proceed into the tensioning position over the hook engaging member, the limit stops placed on the eccentric spindle and tension hook body come in contact. This contact thereby prevents the lever are operating the spindle from reaching thearresting pin'location at the end of the displacement range. .Such a blocking effect indicates to the operator that something is wrong and that the operation must either be completely repeated or that the device is in need of maintenance.

Means for centering the form saddles on the cylinder body insure the radial and longitudinal centering of the form saiddles before the tension hooks are put into the tensioning or clamping position. A specific embodiment of this invention includes centering pins located on the form cylinder body at the middle portion of the form saddles. Two tension hooks are located oneither side of the centering pin location. A total of four tensioning hooks is therefore used for each form saddle; The eccentric spindles carrying the tension hooks are coupled together with gears at an end face side of the form cylinder. In this way, the spindles can be swung together. Lever members are placed at the end of the spindles and can be displacedby hand. The levers are moved between two arresting positions where the tension hooks are located in a tensioning position and in resting position; Spindles are provided to control the tensioning of tension hooks for form saddles positioned one beside the other in the longitudinal direction of the form cylinder. The movement of these spindles to control two adjacent form saddles may be effected by lever members located on the same end face of the form cylinder body. Each form cylinder half width can be placed on and 011' of the form cylinder and tensioned or clamped individually. It is necessary to actuate two spindles carrying tension books when double width fonn saddles are used. Substantially the full extent of the form cylinder circumference can be used when form saddles for printing plates are employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. In the accompanying drawings wherein illustrative embodiments of the invention are disclosed,

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of the base end side of a rotary press form cylinder constructed in accordance with this invention,

FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal cutout view along the line Il-II of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a partial sectional view of tension hook constructed in accordance with this invention in a tensioned condition,

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a tension hook constructed in accordance with this invention in a released tension position,

FIG. 5 is a view of the same in a resting'position, and

FIG. 6 is a view of the same showing the eccentric spindle in a resting position causing radial displacement of the hook shank for return to the tensioning position.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Two form saddles 2 are mounted on the form cylinder 1. Each of the form saddles 2 fit circumferentially and longitudinally over the form cylinder 1. These saddles 2 are designed for any particular type of plate known in practical use. Centering .pins 3 are positioned one behind the other in axial direction on the form cylinder 1. Two centering pins 3 are used for each saddle 2. Adjusting sleeves 4 are pressed in on the bottom side of each saddle 2. The sleeves'4 fit on the centering pins 3 so that the saddle2 is centered both in a circumferential and axial direction of the form cylinder 1.

The plate-shaped hook engaging members 5 are mounted on both sides of the centering pins 3 on the bottom side of each saddleZ. The tension books 6 include hook shanks 27 which may be placed above the hook engaging members 5. There are four of these plate-shaped hook engaging members 5 for the form cylinder 1. The hook shanks 27 are swung over the plate-shaped hook engaging members 5 and tightened in a substantially radial direction with respect to the form cylinder 1. The tension hooks 6 are frictionally mounted on eccentric spindles 7. The spindles7 carry the books 6 over a displacement range when they are not in contact withthe hook engaging members 5. The turning of the tension hooks on the eccentric spindles 7 provides the necessary tension to hook the form saddles 2 against the form cylinder 1. Two of the eccentric spindles 7 are coupled together via the spur gears 8 and 9 and intermediate gears 10. The eccentric spindles 7 are mounted at their outward ends-in bearing brackets 11. The spindles 7 aremounted in the cylinder body itself along their middle portions (not shown). The spindles 7 and the intermediate gears 10 are positioned in bushing 12. One intermediate gear 10 is shown positioned on an existing spindle l8 and another intermediate gear 10 is mounted on bolts I3 which are pressed into the bearing bracket ll. Hand levers 14 andl4' are used to turn the eccentric spindles 7. Snap pins 15 located at the end of the hand levers l4 and 14' locate the levers I4 and 14' by contact with notches 16 when the pins I5 are in a completely relaxed position. Notches 16 are positioned on one side of raceway I! which are fixedly attached to the body of the form cylinder l. The location of the hand levers l4 and 14' make it possible to clamp all of the form saddles 2 from one side of the form cylinder l. The lever 14 serves for tensioning one of the form saddles 2 via the eccentric spindle 18.

A tightened or clamped tension hook 6 is shown in a tightened condition in FIG. 3. The eccentric spindle 7 is swung to a point diametrically opposed to the hook shank 27 around 'the bearing axle M to effect the tightened condition. Loose play is shown in the bore hole 24 of the tension hook 6 on the side directed toward the hook shank 27. Pressure springs 19 are supported on a plate 20 which is fixed to the tension hook 6 by means of screws 21. The guide pin 22 is also mounted on the plate 20. The pressure springs 19 force rubbing and pressure plate 23 against the eccentric spindle 7.

The tightening effect between the hook shank 27 and the hook engaging member 5 prevents simultaneous movement of the tension hook 6 with the eccentric spindle 7. The hook 6 essentially maintains its position in contact with the hook e nga ging member 5 up to an angular displacement a because of the tightening effect between shank 27 and member 5. If the eccentric spindle 7 is swung from the tensioning position to the extent of angle b as shown in FIG. 4, the hook 6 will have overcome the tightening effect. When the loose play between the bore 24 and the spindle 7 shifts to the side of the rubbing and pressure plate 23, the effect of the pressure caused by the springs 19 is reduced and a loosening effect is obtained. This loosening effect is shown in FIG. 4. Tension hook 6 is swung only when the angle a is deviated to the extent of the angle b as shown in FIG. 4. Complete removal of the hook shank 27 from the hook engaging member 5 is effected when the spindle 7 is shown in a counterclockwise direction over an angle 0 The edge of the form cylinder cutout 28 limits the swinging movement of the hook 6. The hook shank 27 travels along the line 29 during the swinging movement. For reapplying the tension to the saddles 2, the hook shank 27 has a corresponding return movement along the line 30. The end of the line 30 is shown to be somewhat above the edge of the engaging hook member 5. The traveling line 30 is reached ina substantially radial direction by moving the eccentric spindle 7 in a counterclockwise direction until the angle dis reached after the hook 6 has touched the edge of the cutout 28. The angle d is reached when the lever arm 14 is located in place by the arresting pins 15 located in the raceway holes 16'. A corresponding displacement of the eccentric spindle 7 takes place inside the hook bore hole 24. This adjusts in hook shank 27 outwardly with respect to the center axis M. The shank 27 then travels the line 30 which has a larger radius than line 29. The hook 27 is carried along by friction when the eccentric spindle 7 is swung in a clockwise direction. When the hook shank 27 comes over the hook engaging member 5, its swinging movement is ended. As the spindle 7 continues to turn in the bore hole 24, the hook 6 is caused to move radially inward until it reaches the tensioning position as shown in FIG. 3. Here the arresting pins 15 snap into the raceway notch 16.

If the hook shank 27 does not swing over the hook engaging member 5, the edge of the hook shank 27 pushes against the edge of the hook engaging member 5. A stopper 25 positioned on hook 6 contacts the stop 26 located on the eccentric spindle 7 as the spindle 7 continues its swinging clockwise movement. When this happens, the raceway notch 16 is not contacted by the arresting pin 15. It is there known that the saddles have not been tightened to the body of the form cylinder I.

While the device for fixing form saddles on the rotary press form cylinder has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and construction may be made therein within the scope of the invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

I. A device for fixing a form saddle on a rotary press form cylinder, said device comprising:

a. hook means mounted in said form cylinder to grip a portion of said saddle for holding the saddle in place on the form cylinder when the hook means is in a clamping position,

b. said hook means applying a force on the saddle in a substantially radial; direction with respect to the form cylinder,

c. said hook means has a hook shank portion and a body portion which includes a circular bore hole,

. hook mounting means located inside the form cylinder to carry the hook means into and out of the clamping position,

. said hook mounting means including a spindle having a portion with an eccentric cross-sectional shape and passing through the bore hole in frictional contact therewith,

f. said hook means further including a pressure plate means in contact with the spindle surface which is located in the bore hole and spring means to apply pressure against the pressure plate means to cause a frictional force between the spindle surface and the plate means,

g. said hook means having a displacement range between the clamping position and a resting position,

b. stop means located on the form cylinder to limit the displacement of the hook means at the resting position, and

i. means located outside the form cylinder to move the hook means into and out of the clamping position.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said spindle turns about its axis in a displacement range between a clamp producing position and a hook means return position,

each of the spindle displacement positions being located beyond the hook means displacement position.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said eccentric portion of the spindle is disposed within the circular bore hole to effect movement of the hook shank portion in a substantially radial direction,

the structural relationship between the hook means and the spindle being adapted to effect the radial movement of the hook means when the spindle is displaced within said bore hole.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 further including a first stop means located on the spindle surface and a second stop means located on the hook means,

said first and second stop means being located with respect to each other to come into contact when the hook means does not reach the clamping position thereby preventing the spindle from reaching the clamp producing position.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein a row of hook means is located in two separate positions on each form saddle,

each said spindle carries a gear which is in operable contact with the gear of an adjacent spindle to provide means for simultaneous movement of the hook means,

at least one said spindle further carries a lever means on an outward end thereof to provide means for turning the spindles outside of the form cylinder.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein arresting pins are mounted on the spindle lever means to lock the spindles in the clamp producing position and the hook means return position.

7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said lever means includes a first set of lever members mounted on spindles to effect the movement of hook means which holds a first set of form saddles in place and a second set of lever members mounted on spindles to effect the movement of hook means which holds a second set of form saddles in place, i

said first and second set of form saddles being positioned adjacent each other along the longitudinal direction of the form cylinder, and

said lever members being located together at the same end face of the form cylinder.

8. A device as defined in claim 1 further including means to axially and radially center the form saddle on the form cylinder.

9. A device as defined in claim 8 wherein said centering means are located along the surface of the form cylinder and along the middle portion of the form saddle,

a row of hook means is located on both sides of said centering means,

each said spindle carries a gear which is in operable bontact with the gear of an adjacent spindle to provide means for simultaneous movement of the hook means,

at least one said spindle further carries a lever means on an outward end thereof to provide means for turning said spindles outside of the form cylinder.

10. A device for fixing a form saddle on a rotary press form cylinder, said device comprising a. hook means mounted in said form cylinder to grip a portion of said form saddle for holding saddle in place on the form cylinder when the hook means is in a clamping position.

b. said hook means applying a force on the saddle in only a substantially radial direction with respect to the form cylinder when the hook means is in the clamping position,

c. hook mounting means including a spindle having a surface on which said hook means is disposed,

d. said spindle being located inside the form cylinder and rotatable about its axis in a displacement range between a clamp producing position and a hook means return position to carry the hook means into and out of the clamping position,

e. means for rotating said spindle from outside the form cylinder to move the hook means into and out of the clamping position, and v f. a first stop means located on the spindle and a second stop means located on the hook means,

g. said first and second stop means being located with respect to each other to come into contact when the hook means does not reach the clamping position thereby preventing the spindle from reaching the clamp producing position.

11. A device for fixing a form saddle on a rotary printing press form cylinder, said device comprising:

a. hook means mounted in said form cylinder to grip a portion of said form saddle for holding the saddle in place on the form cylinder when the hook means is in a clamping position,

. said hook means applying a force on the saddle in only a substantially radial direction with respect to the form cylinder when the hook means is in the clamping position,

c. said hook means has a hook shank-portion, a body portion which includes a circular bore hole and has a displacement range between the clamping position and a resting position,

. hook mounting means located inside the form cylinder to carry the hook means into and out of the clamping position,

e. said hook mounting means including a spindle having a portion with an eccentric cross-sectional shape;

f. said eccentric portion passing through said bore hole in frictional contact therewith,

g. said spindle turning about its axis in a displacement range between a clamp producing position and a hook means return position, each of the spindle displacemen tpositions being located beyond the hook means displacement range.

12. A device for fixing form saddles on a rotary press form cylinder, said device comprising:

a. hook means mounted in said form cylinder to grip a portion of each form saddle for holding the saddle in place on the form cylinder when the hook means is in a clamping position,

b. said hook means being located in two separate positions on each form saddle and applying a force on each saddle in only a substantially radial direction with respect to the form cylinder when the hook means is in the clamping position,

c. each said hook means having a hook shank portion and a body portion includes a circular bore hole,

d. hook mounting means located inside the form cylinder to carry the hook means into and out of the clamping position,

. said hook mounting means including a spindle having a portion with an eccentric cross-sectional shape associated with each said hook means,

said eccentric portion passing through each said bore hole in frictional contact therewith,

each said spindle carries a gear which is in operable contact with the gear of an adjacent spindle to provide means for simultaneous movement of the hook means,

at least one of said spindles further carries a lever means on an outward end thereof to provide means for turning the spindles outside the form cylinder, and

. arresting pins being mounted on the spindle lever means to lock the spindles in a clamp producing position and a hook means return position.

13. A device as defined in claim 12 wherein said spindle lever means includes a first set of lever members mounted on spindles to effect the movement of hook means which holds a first set of form cylinders in place and a second set of lever members mounted on spindles to effect the movement of hook means which holds a second set of form saddles in place,

said first and second set of form saddles being positioned adjacent each other along the longitudinal direction of the fonn cylinder, and

said lever members being located together at the same end of the form cylinder.

14. A device as defined in claim 12 further including means to axially and radially center the form saddle on the form cylinder,

said centering means are located along the surface of the form cylinder and along the middle portion of the form saddle between said hook means located in two separate positions. 

1. A device for fixing a form saddle on a rotary press form cylinder, said device comprising: a. hook means mounted in said form cylinder to grip a portion of said saddle for holding the saddle in place on the form cylinder when the hook means is in a clamping position, b. said hook means applying a force on the saddle in a substantially radial direction with respect to the form cylinder, c. said hook means has a hook shank portion and a body portion which includes a circular bore hole, d. hook mounting means located inside the form cylinder to carry the hook means into and out of the clamping position, e. said hook mounting means including a spindle having a portion with an eccentric cross-sectional shape and passing through the bore hole in frictional contact therewith, f. said hook means further including a pressure plate means in contact with the spindle surface which is located in the bore hole and spring means to apply pressure against the pressure plate means to cause a frictional force between the spindle surface and the plate means, g. said hook means having a displacement range between the clamping position and a resting position, h. stop means located on the form cylinder to limit the displacement of the hook means at the resting position, and i. means located outside the form cylinder to move the hook means into and out of the clamping position.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said spindle turns about its axis in a displacement range between a clamp producing position and a hook means return position, each of the spindle displacement positions being located beyond the hook means displacement position.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said eccentric portion of the spindle is disposed within the circular bore hole to effect movement of the hook shank portion in a substantially radial direction, the structural relationship between the hook means and the spindle being adapted to effect the radial movement of the hook means when the spindle is displaced within said bore hole.
 4. A device as defined in claim 1 further including a first stop means located on the spindle surface and a second stop means located on the hook means, said first and second stop means being located with respect to each other to come into contact when the hook means does not reach the clamping position thereby preventing the spindle from reaching the clamp producing position.
 5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein a row of hook means is located in two separate positions on each form saddle, each said spindle carries a gear which is in operable contact with the gear of an adjacent spindle to provide means for simultaneous movement of the hook means, at least one said spindle further carries a lever means on an outward end thereof to provide means for turning the spindles outside of the form cylinder.
 6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein arresting pins are mounted on the spindle lever means to lock the spindles in the clamp producing position and the hook means return position.
 7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said lever means includes a first set of lever members mounted on spindles to effect the movement of hook means which holds a first set of form saddles in place and a second set of lever members mounted on spindles to effect the movement of hook means which holds a second set of form saddles in place, said first and second set of form saddles being positioned adjacent each other along the longitudinal direction of the form cylinder, and said lever members being located together at the same end face of the form cylinder.
 8. A device as defined in claim 1 further including means to axially and radially center the form saddle on the form cylinder.
 9. A device as defined in claim 8 wherein said centering means are located along the surface of the form cylinder and along the middle portion of the form saddle, a row of hook means is located on both sides of said centering means, each said spindle carries a gear which is in operable contact with the gear of an adjacent spindle to provide means for simultaneous movement of the hook means, at least one said spindle further carries a lever means on an outward end thereof to provide means for turning said spindles outside of the form cylinder.
 10. A device for fixing a form saddle on a rotary press form cylinder, said device comprising a. hook means mounted in said form cylinder to grip a portion of said form saddle for holding saddle in place on the form cylinder when the hook means is in a clamping position. b. said hook means applying a force on the saddle in only a substantially radial direction with respect to the form cylinder when the hook means is in the clamping position, c. hook mounting means including a spindle having a surface on which said hook means is disposed, d. said spindle being located inside the form cylinder and rotatable about its axis in a displacement range between a clamp producing position and a hook means return position to carry the hook means into and out of the clamping position, e. means for rotating said spindle from outside the form cylinder to move the hook means into and out of the clamping position, and f. a first stop means located on the spindle and a second stop means located on the hook means, g. said first and second stop means being located with respect to each other to come into contact when the hook means does not reach the clamping position thereby preventing the spindle from reaching the clamp producing position.
 11. A device for fixing a form saddle on a rotary printing press form cylinder, said device comprising: a. hook means mounted in said form cylinder to grip a portion of said form saddle for holding the saddle in place on the form cylinder when the hook means is in a clamping position, b. said hook means applying a force on the saddle in only a substantially radial direction with respect to the form cylinder when the hook means is in the clamping position, c. said hook means has a hook shank portion, a body portion which includes a circular bore hole and has a displacement range between the clamping position and a resting position, d. hook mounting means located inside the form cylinder to carry the hook means into and out of the clamping position, e. said hook mounting means including a spiNdle having a portion with an eccentric cross-sectional shape; f. said eccentric portion passing through said bore hole in frictional contact therewith, g. said spindle turning about its axis in a displacement range between a clamp producing position and a hook means return position, each of the spindle displacement positions being located beyond the hook means displacement range.
 12. A device for fixing form saddles on a rotary press form cylinder, said device comprising: a. hook means mounted in said form cylinder to grip a portion of each form saddle for holding the saddle in place on the form cylinder when the hook means is in a clamping position, b. said hook means being located in two separate positions on each form saddle and applying a force on each saddle in only a substantially radial direction with respect to the form cylinder when the hook means is in the clamping position, c. each said hook means having a hook shank portion and a body portion includes a circular bore hole, d. hook mounting means located inside the form cylinder to carry the hook means into and out of the clamping position, e. said hook mounting means including a spindle having a portion with an eccentric cross-sectional shape associated with each said hook means, f. said eccentric portion passing through each said bore hole in frictional contact therewith, g. each said spindle carries a gear which is in operable contact with the gear of an adjacent spindle to provide means for simultaneous movement of the hook means, h. at least one of said spindles further carries a lever means on an outward end thereof to provide means for turning the spindles outside the form cylinder, and i. arresting pins being mounted on the spindle lever means to lock the spindles in a clamp producing position and a hook means return position.
 13. A device as defined in claim 12 wherein said spindle lever means includes a first set of lever members mounted on spindles to effect the movement of hook means which holds a first set of form cylinders in place and a second set of lever members mounted on spindles to effect the movement of hook means which holds a second set of form saddles in place, said first and second set of form saddles being positioned adjacent each other along the longitudinal direction of the form cylinder, and said lever members being located together at the same end of the form cylinder.
 14. A device as defined in claim 12 further including means to axially and radially center the form saddle on the form cylinder, said centering means are located along the surface of the form cylinder and along the middle portion of the form saddle between said hook means located in two separate positions. 